Paige

Hello! A post about the rough boat ride to Capri brought this to mind, as I plan to take that same boat this summer. On a trip to Greece last fall, I took Dramamine on the long, rough ferry rides (not the huge car ferries, they don't bother me) and it put me to sleep. I was out like a light. Has anyone tried the non-drowsy formula of Dramamine? Does it work? Any other ideas on how to deal with this problem? Thanks!

Bjorn Alvik

An old sailor once told me that the most important is to get your stomach to relax. Therefore: Do not eat on forehand. After that, have a heavy drink of any pure cognac straight down. I've tried it, and it works perfect for me, and I swear by Curvoisier V.S.O.P
Bjorn

Paulo

I guess that reactions to drugs in this area depend on the individual. Here in Brazil we prefer to use "Plasil" (don't know what's called in the US). When I was involved with an international youth exchange program in the past and groups of kids had to be taken on a bus trip on very winding roads, we had much better success with it than with Dramamine (called Dramin down here). Only about 10% of the kids felt drowsy.

Plasil is available in Italy but there's a problem ... one needs a prescription.

Paulo

Paige

Thanks guys! I'll give the cognac a try. That sounds like it might actually work! I'll also check with my doctor to see if there's something like Plasil. Do you know what the active ingredients are? I bought some non-drowsy Dramamine that I might try, too. There are many boat rides in my future so I should have opportunities to try all of these.

Paulo

Forgot to mention ... Plasil has to be taken about 1 hour before the trip. Also, my daughter's skuba diving group recommends placing TransDermScop patches behind the ear some 3-4 hours before boat departure.
Paulo

s.fowler

My non-scholarly view on seasickness is that *some* of it is an attempt to retain the same relationship to the ground that we have on land, that is we fight the motion. What I do is "dance" with the boat -- perhaps it helps that I *was* a dancer at one juncture -- but I have actually talked "green-faced" cruise passengers into this dance and it has worked. The cognac sounds good too!

Florence

1) pray
2) apply a patch of transdermal Scopolamine behind the ear 5-6 hours before boarding.
3) pray again.

More seriously, Dramamine is known for inducing drowsiness. Have a look at:

http://fishinkona.com/seasick.htm
"Scopolamine:
For the hard core "I always get sea sick" types. This remedy is also referred to as "the patch" and can be obtained by prescription from your doctor. It looks like a little round Band-Aid and is worn behind your ear. There are a certain percentage of people who have adverse side effects to this medication. I highly suggest that if you're using this remedy for the first time, try using one at home first. You don't want to find out that you have an adverse reaction to this stuff when you're several miles out at sea."

Adverse effects can include transitory dry mouth and blurred vision, especially if you don't wash your hands and rub your eyes. It should not be used in case of glaucoma (ask your Dr.) and heavy alcool intake should be avoided.

http://seacruisechat.com/cral/faq.htm
"Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Cruises But Were Afraid To Ask
If you have never cruised before you probably have a zillion questions. If you have cruised before, you probably only have half a zillion. This is the place to get some answers."

Having sailed quite a number of times on small and big ships, I wouldn't recommend the cognac treatment. Hangover + sea-sickness is something you won't forget in a hurry: makes you wish you were dead, and dread you'll survive.

Have good and safe trips.

leslie

I get seasick walking on the pier before boarding the boat. I did not want to take any medication, but a pharmacist recommended ginger herbal supplement. I took it for a whale watching boat trip and it worked for me.

Danielle

Dramamine never worked for me and the patch made me feel strange, dizzzy and dry mouth for the whole week on my wonderful sailboat cruise. I can't beleive no one has mentioned BONINE. Little blue box of tiny chewable pills. Take two when or if you're sick and in about 5-10 minutes it's over. One dose lasts 24 hrs.

I carry these with me all the time. Take them for car sick, airsick, seasick. No prescription needed but you have to ask the pharmacist for it, not on the supermaket shelf, in the pharm dept.

I work for an airline, not for this company. This works. Good luck. Have a great trip.

Danielle

Julie

Dramamine also makes me sleepy, but once I get going I'm okay, if I sit down I Zonk out.
Other things that seem to work for me and my daughter are:
1) always look forward out of a window - never look out the side window for anything more than a glance
2) eat salted dry crackers before and during trip - don't drink much of anything because the liquid seems to slosh around in my belly and make me feel worse

I have also been told at health food stores that ginger helps. We tried crystalized candy ginger before hand and during but it didn't work as well as the crackers for us. Also at health food stores they sell homeopathic items for seasickness that we tried...still not too good.

So we take dramamine, eat crackers, and take a nap through the ride. (I really don't want to see the waves anyway.) Get off the boat and have a drink!

Sheila

To Danielle - can you take the Bonine to prevent motion sickness or is it to be used only after you feel sick? Also does it make you feel sleepy? Dramamine works for me on a plane but not on a boat.

Linda R.

Sheila, take the Bonine like you would take Dramamine; at least an hour before. As far as eating is concerned, something like dry crackers, apples and a double benefit can be had from ginger snaps as the ginger is helpful as another poster stated. You stomach is actually happier if you can keep it's "mind" off of what is actually happening around it. gt;}

Linda R.

liz

Danielle, can you tell me if you know if Bonine is available in Canada. I haven' heard of it. Also do you know if it's safe for kids. I have a 10 year old that doesn't appreciate the winding roads of Tuscany and usually feels quite green and breaks in the rental car at some point! I'm tired of stealing airline vomit bags all the time. I usually bring one of those plastic strip grounding devices that you put on the bumper of your car as well, it helps a little but not completely.

Dave

HALF of a "patch" 4 hours before rough seas works fine for my wife and me, and lasts a few days. With half a patch, we have no side effects. Just wash your hands after applying.

elizabeth

A good friend of mine is highly susceptible to motion sickness, but made ill by virtually every pill/patch/herb etc. She and her husband own a small plane so it was a really big problem. She swears by elasticized wristbands that apply pressure to an acupuncture point. Here's a description for a brand called "Accupressure"

"Both children and adults can benefit from our Accupressure Bands. Made of soft stretchy cotton, they control the unpleasant effects of motion sicknesses - including sea sickness, air sickness, car sickness. Moms even use them to combat morning sickness. When positioned on a specific part of the wrist, the bands' special pressure point buttons cause the feelings of nausea to subside. Used by hospitals, physicians, pilots, and the British Royal Fleet"

I've flown with Kathy before she discovered the wristbands and after - there's no comparison.

gail

Danielle - I get sick on the dock too. Does Bonine really work if you wait til you're already sick??!! I'd rather avoid taking anything til I had to but was always afraid it would be too late if I didn't take it while still on the dock, so to speak.

Thyra

We were sailing for 7 days this past October on a 38 foot yacht, 4 of us and one confirmed sea "sicky" we all got the patches and not one person got sick despite some real "weather" conditions in the Greek isles. I did find that it made me a little tiny bit sleepy, but since I was on vacation to relax, I actually liked that. I mean what else could we do besides lay on the deck and stare at the blue water***

Tammy

I've used the accupressure wrist bands numerous times, and they work almost every time. I've used them on the ferry crossing the English Channel, on tour buses winding through small narrow roads, on small pleasure boats on a river, riding in the backseat of a car, airplanes, and on roller coasters. They aren't exactly a fashion statement but I prefer them over everything else I have tried.

xxx

A previous poster stated that ginger candy didn't work well. That's true, but ginger capsules do a great job. You can get them in any health food stores and many pharmacies. All natural and work well for motion sickness as well as morning sickness for expectant mothers.

Diane

I always travel with my accupressure wristbands. They have worked better than anything else I have tried, and I've tried just about everything. Ginger seems to do a multitude of wonderful things for the stomach, too.